Child thrown off London’s Tate Modern building

Police believe a teenager grabbed a six-year-old boy and threw him off the 10-storey Tate Modern.

In a chilling act of attempted murder, police believe a teenager has grabbed a six-year-old boy — unknown to him — and thrown him off the top of the 10-storey Tate Modern London tourist attraction this morning.

The boy plummeted five floors before landing on a fifth floor balcony with critical injuries as his distraught mother was on the top floor viewing platform screaming “where’s my son, he’s my son’’.

Others on the same platform were also reported to be in shock amid the distressing scenes and detained a teenager until police arrived.

The teenager was reported to have thrown the boy at around 2.40pm local time, and was in a “calm’’ state, say bystanders. He was arrested by police on suspicion of attempted murder as the rest of the art gallery, one of the most popular in the country, was put into lockdown.

The Sun spoke to Nancy Barnfield, 47, of Rochdale, who was on the tenth floor and heard a bang. She turned and saw the woman screaming hysterically: “Where’s my son?’’

The Tate Modern evacuated the art gallery and closed for the day as a helicopter arrived to take the boy to hospital.

The Tate Modern gallery with its viewing platform in London. Picture: Daniel Sorabji.

The Met Police issued two statements saying: “A child fell from height and is being taken to hospital by London’s Air Ambulance.

“A teenager has been arrested in connection with the incident.”

In a second statement they said: “The six year-old victim was found on a fifth floor roof.

“He was treated at the scene and taken to hospital by London’s Air Ambulance.

“The boy’s condition is critical; his family are being supported by police.

“A 17-year-old male had remained with members of the public on the tenth floor viewing platform. There is nothing to suggest that he is known to the victim.

“The teenager was arrested by police officers on suspicion of attempted murder and taken into police custody.”